Buying a new lens for my Canon 500D - Advice Please!

[Buck]

Hi

I have a 500D which I'm happy with but had contemplated changing to a 7D but having thought about it I think I will delay this slightly and look at putting some better glass on my camera.

I would be looking to buy second hand (probably from here) and currently have the following lenses: -

• EF-S 1022mm for landscape
• EF-S 18-55 Kit lens which is my everyday lens
• EF-S 55-250
• EF 50mm MkII

I was thinking about getting one of the following two lenses to replace my everyday/walkabout lens as my 10-22 will cover the short end and I could then look to replace the 55-250 at some point in the future.
The two lenses I was looking for advice on are: -

24-70 f2.8L USM
24-105 f4L IS USM

I have searched on here and didn't find anything that pushed me towards one or the other. The only thought I had is that the 24-105 might be heavier
than the 24-70 but the 24-70 has 2.8 so 'faster' but more expensive!
On both, as they are EF lenses then if I went FF in the future, either would still be compatible.

Also, any other recommendations as to which lens you'd recommend
Over to you guys and thanks in advance

Adrian

 

[arad85]

24-70 is heavier than the 24-105. If I were staying on crop, I'd get the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS and not bother with the L series stuff (until you get to want a 70-200). If you're dead set on L glass, I'd get the 24-105. Lighter, more range and has 3 stops of IS which is far more use in most cases than the one stop of light the 2.8 gives you.

 

[arad85]

PS. once you start with L glass on a xxxD series, it will start to get very small in the hands very quickly as the lens is almost bigger than the camera. Budget in a move to the physically bigger cameras sooner rather than later IMHO...

 

[coldpenguin]

Why were you thinking of going to the 7d, what was it on the camera that you needed?
What are you intending on photographing now?
I have just upgraded my 18-55 kit lens to EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS and like it.
However, I already had the 100-400L which is what I like for wildlife.

 

[tiny73]

another vote for the 17-55mm 2.8 IS. I'm using it on a 40d and its a cracking lens. Part ex'd it from a 17-40 F4L and have no regrets whatsoever.

 

[alexhcowley]

Why were you thinking of going to the 7d, what was it on the camera that you needed?
What are you intending on photographing now?
I have just upgraded my 18-55 kit lens to EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS and like it.
However, I already had the 100-400L which is what I like for wildlife.

Everyone seems to think the Canon 100-400L is the best quality lens in its class but it is horribly expensive and also only has 2 stop image stabilisation (a very important issue for some of us).

If you are considering a big zoom, some time in the future, you might like to consider the Sigma 100-400 and 150-500 zooms. I have the latter and it's seriously hot stuff (although very heavy). The IS on it has been likened to witchcraft, an opinion I have no problems with.

 

[Buck]

24-70 is heavier than the 24-105. If I were staying on crop, I'd get the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS and not bother with the L series stuff (until you get to want a 70-200). If you're dead set on L glass, I'd get the 24-105. Lighter, more range and has 3 stops of IS which is far more use in most cases than the one stop of light the 2.8 gives you.

PS. once you start with L glass on a xxxD series, it will start to get very small in the hands very quickly as the lens is almost bigger than the camera. Budget in a move to the physically bigger cameras sooner rather than later IMHO...

~Thanks Andy

I'll take a look at the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 - I'm not set on the L glass but do want something that is optically good rather than OK!

I know what you mean re the camera - the 500D is a good camera but does feel less substantial when you handle a 7D or any of the other XD or XXD cameras

 

[Buck]

Why were you thinking of going to the 7d, what was it on the camera that you needed?
What are you intending on photographing now?
I have just upgraded my 18-55 kit lens to EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS and like it.
However, I already had the 100-400L which is what I like for wildlife.

The two things on the 7D apart from the 'feel' of the camera and mbeing more substantial were the auto focus and fps in comparison

I recently shot some birds at a falconry centre and the fps was slow in comparison but also the buffer in the 500D filled quite quickly too.

As mentioned in my first post I think a move to a better lens in the short term will give me a better return on my cash?

 

[Buck]

another vote for the 17-55mm 2.8 IS. I'm using it on a 40d and its a cracking lens. Part ex'd it from a 17-40 F4L and have no regrets whatsoever.

thanks Tim

need to see if i can find a reasonably priced one now then.....

 

[Buck]

Everyone seems to think the Canon 100-400L is the best quality lens in its class but it is horribly expensive and also only has 2 stop image stabilisation (a very important issue for some of us).

If you are considering a big zoom, some time in the future, you might like to consider the Sigma 100-400 and 150-500 zooms. I have the latter and it's seriously hot stuff (although very heavy). The IS on it has been likened to witchcraft, an opinion I have no problems with.

Thanks Alex

The right zoom lens for me will be the next dilemma!

 

[coldpenguin]

I recently shot some birds at a falconry centre and the fps was slow in comparison but also the buffer in the 500D filled quite quickly too.

For me, it was important to get a longer zoom from where I was for birds, which was why I went for the 100-400L.
Later I then went to the 7d, for the fps


I am not saying that the 100-400L is perfect, anything heavier/larger I couldn't take on holiday, which would mean that I would use it less. But for me, it was only slightly more SH than Sigma, with less worries about the quality.
When you get a good Sigma, they are meant to be very good, but at the time I was buying, there was reported to be a large spate of bad copies going around.
I do yearn for more reach now though.

 

[tiny73]

thanks Tim

need to see if i can find a reasonably priced one now then.....

Try mpb photographic, they had one on there earlier in the week. I part ex'd mine there, great service and quality products

 

[Buck]

Thanks Tim.

Will take a look on there and also post a wanted ad.

Adrian